minister’s claim of ‘100 molenbeeks’ in france sparks debate
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Minister’s claim of ‘100 Molenbeeks’ in France sparks debate

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Minister’s claim of ‘100 Molenbeeks’ in France sparks debate

France’s communities minister has triggered a debate over his claims
Paris - Arab Today

France’s communities minister has triggered a debate over his claims that there are 100 neighbourhoods in the country comparable to Molenbeek, the Brussels district that spawned many of the jihadists behind recent attacks in Europe.

The minister, Patrick Kanner, had made the comment on Sunday, saying “there are today, we know, around 100 neighbourhoods in France that show similar potential to what happened in Molenbeek.”

He claimed the high number of radicalised youths in Molenbeek was linked to “an enormous concentration of poverty and unemployment… a mafia system with an underground economy… where public services have disappeared”.

It recalled comments by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls a year ago when he spoke of “territorial, social and ethnic apartheid” in many suburbs in the aftermath of the January 2015 attacks in Paris.

The right-wing opposition has welcomed such views from the Socialist-led government. while others dispute the link between poverty and radicalisation.

“For once we have a minister, Mr. Kanner, who has lifted the veil of blindness that covers the eyes and mouth, that is speaking a truth clearly…” said Florian Philippot, one of the main leaders of the far-right National Front party.

But experts say such views only serve to stigmatise working-class areas.

“Kanner has done what his ministry is supposed to fight against: the construct… of poor neighbourhoods as a threat,” said Renaud Epstein, an expert on urban communities at Nantes University in western France.
Many French jihadists came from comfortable middle-class backgrounds before heading off to Syria, and experts have long rejected any direct link between poverty and extremism.

‘Plenty of little Molenbeeks’

Nonetheless, Valls partly backed Kanner’s statement, saying there was a process of “enclosure, sectarianism and radicalisation” happening in some of France’s poorer, primarily immigrant neighbourhoods.

A police source told AFP there were “plenty of little Molenbeeks” in France.

“It’s not exclusively suburbs but areas where we see the significant influence of Salafists and hubs of radicalisation. It tends to be beyond the control of security forces,” the source said.

The French government has designated 80 “priority security zones” (ZSP) with a further 1,300 areas of concern around the country — mostly run-down and crime-ridden neighbourhoods on the outskirts of cities such as Paris and Marseille.

Kanner released a list of 12 “top-priority” neighbourhoods on Friday.

Molenbeek — with unemployment averaging 42 percent among people under 25, and annual per capita income of 9,800 euros ($11,000) — has similar characteristics to these areas.

But experts warn against reducing the problem to statistics.

“If we compare social characteristics, we will find French neighbourhoods that look like Molenbeek, from the point of view of poverty and unemployment, but that doesn’t mean there’s an automatic and simple link between poverty and groups engaged in jihadist ideology,” said Antoine Jardin of the Centre for European Studies at Sciences Po university in Paris.

Source: AFP

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

minister’s claim of ‘100 molenbeeks’ in france sparks debate minister’s claim of ‘100 molenbeeks’ in france sparks debate

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

minister’s claim of ‘100 molenbeeks’ in france sparks debate minister’s claim of ‘100 molenbeeks’ in france sparks debate

 



GMT 10:59 2018 Friday ,07 December

Houthi militia shell commercial center in Hodeidah

GMT 21:12 2017 Sunday ,10 December

UAE, Sri Lanka advancing bilateral relations

GMT 19:21 2017 Wednesday ,08 November

Iqbal Day marked in Paris

GMT 18:14 2017 Wednesday ,31 May

A handbag? For $380k, it's yours

GMT 21:17 2017 Saturday ,21 October

EU summit to throw Britain a Brexit bone

GMT 15:45 2017 Friday ,04 August

Yemeni army liberated more areas in Shabwa

GMT 20:23 2017 Thursday ,14 September

Paul Auster tops shortlist for Man Booker prize

GMT 09:55 2017 Tuesday ,14 November

Horford leads way as Celtics win 12th straight

GMT 20:04 2018 Sunday ,02 September

Drive to teach food safety to housewives

GMT 08:54 2014 Monday ,17 November

German artist hits back at Bayreuth Festival

GMT 13:15 2018 Wednesday ,17 January

Bassil welcomes Ambassadors of Iraq, Hungary

GMT 01:05 2017 Thursday ,23 March

Strawberry prices fall to Dh10 a kilogram
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday